Indian fashion design student has brought a much nameable international moment of fame for her country by winning the 2018 Global James McGuire Business Plan Competition Award. The Indian student, Ashita Singhal showcased her business concept titled ‘Paiwand’, a fashion company that upcycles textile waste from fashion designers and turns it into designer fabrics and clothing.

Ashita’s concept of reusing the waste materials in the fashion industry is revolutionary and eco-friendly for which she claimed the much-recognized award at the event. Another Indian student named Dhawan, who is a postgraduate fashion design student of Indian fashion design institute Pearl Academy, received $25,000 as prize money. This prize money is being provided to her to set up her business.

Ashita, trough her business concept ‘Paiwand’ aims to develop a collaborative movement in the social and environmental standards. By using the term ‘Paiwand’, she means patchwork.

Dhawan’s model, on the other hand, shows a process which will create sustainable, quality work for its artisans.

Notably, there were 14 graduate teams and 16 undergraduate teams from different countries participating in the competition. Ashita received high praises from the selection committee who especially liked her for her entrepreneurship skills and passion for sustainability. Her personality and good communication skills too impressed the selectors.

Ashita, in return, expressed her gratitude towards her faculty members who assisted her all throughout her studies. She said, “Mentors were pivotal in fostering my deepening, life-long devotion to sustainability. The mentorship provided me with great insights for business research and helped me in building the business plan for McGuire. This award is a recognition of the efforts that I have put into this project and a confirmation that I am working in the right direction.”

The President of Pearl Academy, Nandita Abraham, said: “Ashita’s’ award is an acknowledgement of the fact that sustainable design can help change the world. I am proud of Ashita and her superset of mentors who have brought laurels to our country.”